Joint Security Commitments between Ukraine and the European Union

The European Union and Ukraine share common values, namely democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, as well as shared interests in peace, security, stability and prosperity.

Committed to these common values and interests, and in line with European Council Conclusions[1] and the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine of 12 July 2023[2], the European Union and its Member States will contribute, for the long term and together with partners, to security commitments to Ukraine, which will help Ukraine to defend itself, resist destabilisation efforts and deter acts of aggression in the future.

The European Union and Ukraine reiterate their resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter. The European Union reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders as of 1991, Ukraine’s inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, and its pursuit of a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace.

The European Union reiterates that the future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union and recalls the historic decisions of the European Council to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine and to open accession negotiations with Ukraine. The European Union commends the substantial progress that Ukraine has made, even amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine.[3]

The European Union and its Member States are crucial contributors to Ukraine’s immediate and long-term security and resilience through military and civilian assistance, humanitarian, financial, trade and economic support, hosting of displaced people, support to reforms, recovery and reconstruction, as well as restrictive measures, support to accountability mechanisms, diplomatic support and global outreach. The European Union supports Ukraine’s reforms on its EU accession path, and looks to fully use the potential of the existing Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Overall assistance to Ukraine and its people by the European Union and its Member States so far amounts to almost EUR 108 billion, including EUR 39 billion of military support, of which EUR 6.1 billion via the European Peace Facility (EPF). The newly established Ukraine Assistance Fund under the EPF adds additional EUR 5 billion for 2024 to ensure further military assistance and training, and further comparable annual increases could be envisaged until 2027, based on Ukrainian needs and subject to political guidance by the Council. In addition, the European Union established the EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility to provide predictable financial support for Ukraine over the 2024-2027 period (EUR 7.9 billion already disbursed). The European Union also agreed to use the extraordinary revenues stemming from Russia’s immobilised assets to support Ukraine.

The European Union is determined to continue providing Ukraine and its people with all the necessary political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed.

Building on existing support, the European Union’s security commitments include predictable, long-term and sustainable support for Ukraine’s security and defence, including through the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions, as well as wider security commitments, which should be considered in a holistic manner. Security, resilience and defence support, as well as macro-financial, humanitarian, reconstruction and reforms assistance, will reinforce each other.

Military support and security commitments will be provided in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States.

For its part, Ukraine commits to:

• Continue undertaking reforms including in line with its path towards the European Union and in the area of security, intelligence and defence. This includes civilian oversight of the security and defence forces, the efficiency and transparency of the defence institutions, and the reinforcement of its defence industry, building on the European Defence Industrial Strategy;
• Strengthen transparency and accountability measures with regard to assistance received;
• Contribute positively to the security of the European Union and its Member States, including by sharing information and lessons learned as appropriate.

I. Commitments on security and defence aspects

1. Predictable, efficient, sustainable and long-term provision of military equipment

With the creation of the Ukraine Assistance Fund within the EPF, the European Union will continue to support the provision of both lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training to Ukraine. Building on the EU and bilateral initiatives on ammunition, notably the 1 million rounds initiative, missiles and air defence, the European Union and Member States will speed up and intensify the delivery of all the necessary military assistance. The Ukraine Assistance Fund will have a budget of EUR 5 billion for 2024. Further comparable annual increases could be envisaged until 2027, based on Ukrainian needs and subject to political guidance by the Council. This support will continue to be driven by the evolving needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and complementing EU Member States bilateral efforts. EU support will be provided in consultation with partners, notably under the Ukraine Defence Contact Group framework, and with a view to incentivising cooperation between European and Ukrainian defence industry partners.

2. Military training and defence reform

The European Union will continue to provide training to the security and defence forces of Ukraine in particular via the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM). The future training targets should be continuously adjusted in terms of numbers and skills, according to combat needs expressed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and in coordination with partners. The European Union’s training efforts should also contribute to the long-term reform of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Ukraine’s security and defence sector, including in the area of governance and professional military education.

3. Cooperation between the European and the Ukrainian defence industry

The European Union and Ukraine will foster greater cooperation between their defence industries in the spirit of the European Defence Industrial Strategy. The European Union and Ukraine will mutually benefit from initiatives allowing Ukraine to participate in joint procurement and the Ukrainian defence industry to be supported in its industrial ramp-up and strengthening ties with the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base, including through an EU Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv. The European Union and Ukraine acknowledge the need for increasing and securing the timely availability of defence products by developing a more responsive and resilient European and Ukrainian Defence Technological and Industrial Base that is able to ensure security of supply, taking into account existing measures of EU Member States. The European Union will work with Ukraine to strengthen the protection of technology and intellectual property rights in the defence industry.

A stronger cooperation with the Ukrainian defence industry will contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, and will benefit the European defence industry’s capacity to support both Member States’ and Ukrainian needs.

4. Resilience, cyber and hybrid threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference

The European Union and Ukraine will strengthen cooperation on resilience with a focus on countering hybrid and cyber threats, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), as well as protecting critical infrastructure. The EU will support Ukraine to prevent, deter and respond to these threats through the integrated use of the EU’s toolboxes, as well as to enhance cyber resilience through capacity building, cyber security training, support to legislative and policy development, methodological interoperability, technical assistance, and through rapid response support where necessary. The European Union and its Member States will also benefit from Ukraine’s experience in these domains.

The European Union and Ukraine will seek to further intensify their political and technical cooperation on cyber issues, including using the established Cyber Dialogue. Ukraine will seek to enhance cooperation in the framework of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Helsinki, Finland).

The EU and Ukraine will work to strengthen social cohesion as an important aspect of societal resilience. The EU will provide support for stabilisation in liberated and adjacent territories, and for the reintegration of displaced populations and veterans as well as for addressing war trauma.

5. Military and civilian mine action

Mine action will remain a key element in the short to longer term. The European Union will continue to provide support for military and civilian mine action, including humanitarian demining, building on the existing actions to strengthen the capacities of the Ukrainian authorities to address large-scale contamination caused by land and sea mines and explosive remnants of war and release land for productive use as well as providing for safe and secure navigation in the Black Sea region. The European Union and Ukraine will continue to work together towards a more coordinated and integrated mine action governance approach.

6. Civilian Security Sector Reform and support to law enforcement

The European Union will continue to support Ukraine’s civilian security sector, intelligence and border management reforms, in line with the Ukraine’s EU path and the Overarching Strategic Plan for the reform of the entire law enforcement sector, notably through the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM). In this regard, the Mission will provide strategic advice and practical support to reform efforts in line with EU standards and international principles of good governance and human rights. Ukraine commits to adopt and effectively implement such reforms. The European Union will also continue to strengthen the capacities of Ukrainian civilian security sector institutions, integrated border management, and the capacities to fight against organized and cross-border crime, as well as to address urgent war-related challenges such as support to accountability efforts, investigation and prosecution of international crimes, also with respect to Ukrainian cultural heritage, and re-establishment of the rule of law in the liberated and adjacent territories, including through EUAM. Ukraine commits to rapidly building appropriate control and investigation capacity to effectively counter and prosecute large-scale smuggling of any commodity.

7. Preventing and countering the diversion of firearms and small arms and light weapons

The European Union and Ukraine will intensify work to prevent and counter the diversion of firearms and small arms and light weapons (SALW), their ammunition and explosives. The European Union will continue to support Ukraine building up robust capacity to monitor the stocks, the acquisition and possession of firearms and SALW, investigate and prosecute their illegal possession and trafficking, and support international cooperation and assistance in this area. The EU will support the designation and development of appropriate structures, aiming at an effective control and disposal of firearms and SALW. The EU and Ukraine will also actively expose and counter Russian information manipulation in this area.

8. Support to energy security, energy transition, and nuclear safety and security

The European Union will continue to support energy security and transition, nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and to strengthen the Ukrainian nuclear regulatory authority and provide support on capacity building on Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) issues, as well as on Strategic Trade Controls (export control of dual-use items and technologies). In view of Ukraine’s EU path, Ukraine will work towards alignment with the EU acquis. The Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) will continue delivering in-kind assistance to the Ukrainian energy sector as well as CBRN assistance. The European Union and Ukraine will deepen cooperation within the framework of the EU Initiative “Centres of Excellence for CBRN Threat Reduction” to enhance security capabilities and effective countering of CBRN threats and preparedness for man-made disasters.

9. Sharing intelligence and satellite imagery

The European Union and Ukraine will continue to share intelligence and satellite imagery, within agreed parameters.

II. Wider security commitments

1. Support Ukraine’s progress in the European Union accession process and continued support to reforms

The European Union underlines that enlargement is a geo-strategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity. The European Union will continue to support Ukraine’s EU path and related reforms. Ukraine commits to step up reform efforts, notably in the area of rule of law, in line with the merit-based nature of the accession process and with the assistance of the EU.

2. Continued diplomatic support to Ukraine and global outreach towards a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine

The European Union and Ukraine welcome the outcome of the Summit on Peace in Ukraine held in June 2024 in Switzerland. The European Union and its Member States will pursue their efforts to build the broadest international support, especially from key developing countries and emerging economies, for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, in line with the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula. It will be for Ukraine to decide about the actual conditions for negotiations.

3. Predictable financial support and support to recovery reconstruction and modernisation

The European Union will ensure predictable financial support to maintain macroeconomic stability of the State and support recovery, reconstruction and modernisation, economic growth, accession-related reforms and overall resilience, including through the Ukraine Facility, implemented in line with the Ukraine plan, and other relevant instruments and programmes, as well as Team Europe approach. This support will take into account the defence, resilience and social cohesion dimensions, and include such aspects as resilient critical infrastructure, such as energy and transport, military mobility aspect of infrastructure, cyber security, industrial policy in support of the defence industry, humanitarian demining, and the needs of liberated and adjacent territories. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UPCM) will continue to support Ukraine’s emergency services to protect people and civilian infrastructure.

4. Gradual integration into the EU single market

The European Union will continue supporting Ukraine’s economy by facilitating trade, fully exploiting the vast potential of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. The European Union will keep on investing in better connectivity with Ukraine, in particular, to ensure adequate capacity of the Solidarity Lanes, given the persistent threats from Russia to Black Sea shipping, and preparing for increased trade flows along Ukraine’s EU path, together with the implementation of the EU acquis. The EU will also continue working for the integration of Ukraine’s transport, telecommunications and energy networks with the Trans-European Networks.

5. Continuous protection to people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression

The European Union will continue providing protection and assistance in the European Union to people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression. The European Union will also continue providing support to internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups, including the elderly and persons with disabilities.

6. Continued readiness to maintain and to impose new restrictive measures to uphold pressure against Russia, and full and effective implementation of existing sanctions

The European Union and Ukraine will continue to further increase pressure on Russia in order to undermine its ability to wage its war of aggression, including through sanctions imposed on Russia, on those providing material support to its war of aggression against Ukraine, and those in third countries enabling sanctions circumvention. The European Union will continue to strive for the full and effective implementation of sanctions and for addressing and countering circumvention. The European Union will continue to take forward work on further restrictive measures, while pursuing close coordination with Ukraine and partners.

7. Take the work forward towards the use of the revenues from Russia's immobilised assets to support Ukraine

The European Union will continue the work concerning the use of extraordinary revenues held by private entities stemming directly from Russia’s immobilised assets to support Ukraine, consistent with applicable contractual obligations, in accordance with EU and international law, and in coordination with partners.

8. Support to accountability mechanisms for international crimes, including a tribunal for the crime of aggression

The European Union and Ukraine reaffirm that there can be no impunity. The European Union and Ukraine will remain firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other international crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including through investigations and prosecutions, where appropriate, by the International Criminal Court. It will support the establishment of a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine and continue to support the work of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA). The European Union will also continue to support all stages of the accountability cycle from investigation to proper prosecution and trial, eventually ensuring reparation and compensation to the victims. As a first tangible step in this direction, the European Union reiterates its support for the Council of Europe’s Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine.

9. Further building on regional cooperation, including the Eastern Partnership and in the Black Sea region

The European Union will continue to promote regional cooperation, which will contribute to Ukraine’s overall resilience and security. The Eastern Partnership, in all of its dimensions, will continue to strengthen the resilience of neighbouring countries. Regional cooperation on security-related matters (including strengthening security dialogue, fight against cyber and hybrid threats, protection of critical maritime energy, transport and digital infrastructure, and foreign information manipulation and interference) will remain crucial and will continue at appropriate levels, including through cyber dialogues and working arrangements. An EU strategic approach for the Black Sea region will further strengthen the regional cooperation and resilience. Building on the Black Sea Synergy, a more strategic approach to the Black Sea will contribute to unlocking the economic, democratic and cooperative potential of the region in a secure and stable environment. Black Sea regional cooperation will be key to dealing with transnational challenges such as demining and pollution.

The EU and its Member States remain unwavering in demanding the Russian Federation to stop obstructing the freedom of navigation in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, which is causing or exacerbating regional and international crises and disruptions, in particular in the agricultural sector of Ukraine, and the global food security.

III. Consultation mechanisms

In addition to existing political dialogue mechanisms, including regular meetings at Summit, ministerial, and other levels, notably annual dialogues on security and defence issues, the European Union and Ukraine are ready to hold extraordinary consultations to be set up by mutual agreement.

In the event of future aggression, the European Union and Ukraine, at the request of either side, will consult within 24 hours on Ukraine’s needs as it exercises its right of self-defence enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. The European Union and Ukraine will swiftly determine appropriate next steps, in accordance with these commitments, without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States. The European Union and its Member States will also discuss additional measures to deter any military escalation against Ukraine. In order to ensure the widest and most effective response to any future armed attack, the Participants may amend these provisions in order to align with any mechanism that Ukraine may subsequently agree with its other international partners, including the participants in the Joint Declaration of 12 July 2023.

IV. Final provisions

The European Union and Ukraine agree that the European Union’s security commitments to Ukraine will remain in effect as Ukraine pursues its European path. The European Union and Ukraine will continue to take concrete action in the areas expressed in these commitments. The European Union and Ukraine are ready to continuously deepen their cooperation based on mutual agreement and to review the European Union’s security commitments not later than ten years from the date of signature of these commitments.

The European Union and Ukraine agree that the European Union’s long-term commitment to Ukraine will continue on the basis that Ukraine respects and is committed to promoting the values on which the Union is founded, referred to in Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union, namely the respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.

The European Union’s security commitments and bilateral security commitments concluded between Member States of the European Union and Ukraine are complementary and mutually reinforcing. The European Union will facilitate coordination between Member States of the European Union and cooperate with other partners on the implementation of respective security commitments.

Signed in duplicate in Brussels on 27 June 2024, in Ukrainian and English languages, both texts having equal validity. In the event of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

For Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

For the European Union:

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Council Charles Michel